With a swarming defense focused on stopping Loyola’s star running back Jared Baker, Alemany came through with another impressive performance Friday in a 31-14 victory in Serra League action at L.A. College

Baker scored on an 88-yard touchdown, but otherwise he was a non-factor, finishing with 130 in 20 carries, as Alemany held the Arizona-bound senior to two yards or less on 13 of his attempts.

“That was our game plan coming in – to stop Jared Baker – and we stuck to it,” Alemany linebacker Tyler Dabovich said. “We knew what we had to do and who we had to focus on.”

Baker came in with 932 yards rushing, including three consecutive performances of 161 or more.

“Alemany kind of stacked the box on us. They were flying around,” Baker said. “They did a good job.”

Alemany held Loyola to 189 yards, registering seven sacks, including a safety, and limiting Nicolas Cotton to 50 yards passing on 5-of-14 attempts.

Alemany’s Vernon Adams accounting for four touchdowns, three passing and one running. He completed 11 of 20 for 228 yards with two interceptions, and he rushed for 60 yards on 16 carries..

“I think we played pretty well, and the offensive line was blocking their butts off,” Adams said. “Besides the two picks, I thought I played well.”

After a scoreless first quarter, Alemany erupted for 22 points in the second quarter, as Adams accounted for all three touchdowns. He passed 10 yards to Shane Drozdowski, then scored on a 1-yard run followed by a 9-yard touchdown pass to Saladin McCullough.

Adams set up the first touchdown by passing 48 yards to Corey Sims.

On Alemany’s next possession, Adams orchestrated a 10-play, 82-yard drive, highlighted by a 42-yard pass to McCullough before scoring on a 1-yard sneak.

With 48 seconds remaining in the half, Alemany was busy again when McCullough fielded a punt on the run and returned it 31 yarrds to 20. Adams scrambled 11 yards, then found McCullough on the right flat for a 9-yard score with 31 seconds left.

The Warriors have held Loyola to 47 yards, as touted running back Jared Baker has not done a thing. He has 32 yards in 10 carries, including seven rushes of two yards or fewer.

Alemany has amassed 243 yards, as Adams is 8 of 13 for 150 yards and two touchdowns, and he has rushed for 61 yards and a touchdown.

Alemany has scored first in a Serra League game against Loyola at L.A. Valley College, as Vernon Adams passed 10 yards to a diving Shane Drozdowski early in the second quarter, as Adams ran for the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.

Oaks Christian (5-2, 5-1) at Moorpark (4-3, 4-2) – Both these Marmonte League teams can stand tall with just about anyone considering the opponents who have defeated them are a combined 35-1.

For Oaks Christian to share the league title, the Lions probably need to win the final three and hope Westlake loses to St. Bonaventure next week. Oaks Christian’s top players include WRs Jordan Payton and Blair Holliday and LBs Carlos Mendoza and Ron Camacho.

Moorpark has two effective RBs in Tyler Peterson and Aaron Stanton. In a 31-0 win over Royal last week, Peterson scored on a highlight-reel 66-yard run, and Stanton rushed for 87 yards in 10 carries.

Alemany (7-0, 1-0) vs. Loyola (3-5, 0-2) at L.A. Valley College – This should be a fun game to watch because each has a different style. Alemany loves to pass, as Vernon Adams has completed 65.5 percent for 1,493 yards and 14 TDs, while Loyola relies on blazing RB Jared Baker, who has 932 yards and 10 TDs, mostly long breakaways.

Alemany has a flashier record, but Loyola has credibility after defeating Valencia 39-24 earlier this month.

Taft (4-3, 2-0) at Birmingham (2-5, 1-1) – This looks like a big mismatch, but the rivalry factor could play into this West Valley League contest, as many of the players know each other from Portola Junior High in Tarzana.

Hart (5-2, 1-1) at Valencia (6-1, 2-0) – Here’s a simple game plan for Hart in this Foothill League showdown: try to find a way to slow down Valencia’s dynamic duo of Alex Bishop and Steven Manfro. It’s the same strategy for every Valencia opponent, but it’s hard to pull off, as Bishop has passed for 2,004 yards and 19 TDs, and Manfro has rushed for 1,344 yards with 28 receptions and 30 TDs.

Hart, led by LB John Cornelius, prides itself on defense, and the Indians need to lay the wood tonight.

Sierra Canyon (7-0, 4-0) vs. Brentwood (6-1, 3-1), 7 p.m. Saturday at Granada Hills HS – In only its second year of 11-man football, Sierra Canyon, led by QB Tyler Stewart and WR Shane Harrison, is No. 1 in the East Valley Division heading into this Alpha League showdown.

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